Four-Star Defender From Prestigious High School Picks Historic Big Ten Program

Yahoo

12-05-2025

One four-star talent shut his recruitment down on Mother's Day. He handed a historic Big Ten program filled with national championship banners and Hall of Famers a Sunday gift.
Shaun Scott of renown high school powerhouse Mater Dei in Santa Ana is Big Ten bound. But the edge rusher isn't drifting far. Scott chose USC -- further adding to its already No. 1 ranked recruiting class.
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The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Scott hails from the same school that produced multiple future USC standouts. Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the latest Monarchs to thrive at USC. Matt Barkley and Matt Leinart are two more MD legends who went on to USC. Now Scott bolsters the defensive unit.
USC vs. Michigan in 2024. Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Scott ranks as the nation's 28th-best edge prospect plus No. 30 recruit in California by 247Sports. Greg Biggins praised Scott's versatility in his prospect evaluation for the national recruiting outlet.
"Scott is one of the more versatile defensive players out West and could end up at several different positions at the next level," the national recruiting analyst wrote. "He's an intriguing player from a size standpoint and where his frame is at in a few years likely will determine his ultimate position. He has played predominately as an edge for the Monarchs but has slowly transitioned this off-season to more of a hybrid linebacker."
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USC likely will plug him at multiple spots. Scott is heading to longtime NFL assistant Rob Ryan at USC. Ryan is now serving as linebackers coach under Lincoln Riley. The former league defensive coordinator now has one of his biggest recruiting finds on board.
Related: Historic College Football Program Beats Out USC for Massive 2026 Defender